To Be King Bee: Greenwald Eyes National Berth

March 2, 1986|By Randall Mell, Staff Writer

Mark Greenwald is close to earning a berth in the United States Gymnastics Federation`s national meet.

Greenwald, 16, a Class II gymnast for the Tumblebee Stingers in Pompano Beach, recently qualified for the USGF`s state meet for optional gymnasts by winning a state qualifying meet in Tampa. Greenwald won the Class II all- around competition with 88.9 points by taking first place in every event except the vault. He was second in the vault.

Greenwald`s efforts, which included high scores of 9.0 on the vault and 8.8 in the floor exercise, helped the Stingers place fifth in the qualifying meet. A gymnast must score 70 points at a qualifying meet to earn a berth in the state meet, score 80 points at state to earn a regional berth and score 90 points at the regional to earn a national berth.

Gymnasts have opportunities to earn state-meet berths in three state qualifying meets. The Tumblebee Stingers will host the second state qualifying meet March 15 and 16. Twelve teams and 80 boys from around the state are expected to compete.

Greenwald will compete even though he already has qualified for state. He is a favorite to win the all-around title at the state meet.

``At his class and age level, there`s no doubt he is the favorite,`` said Stingers coach Skip Basiel. ``It`s the first year he`s had a realistic chance to qualify for the national meet.``

Basiel sees room for improvement for Greenwald and the rest of his team. He lost several gymnasts from last year`s optional team, which placed third in last year`s state meet.

Culbertson`s Gymnastique in Sarasota won the Tampa qualifying meet with Brown`s School of Gymnastics in Orlando placing second.

``We lost a lot of advanced gymnasts from last year`s team,`` Basiel said. ``Sarasota and Orlando have so much talent that it will take a couple of years for us to catch them, but I think we can do as well as we did in last year`s state meet (third place).``

The state meet will be held in Sarasota in June.

``I`d rather be in the situation we are in where we have finished fifth and realize that a few falls cost us third place,`` Basiel said. ``It makes (the Stingers) mad. They know they can scratch their way up a little bit each meet to where they can finish third again this year.``

Greenwald`s effort and leadership has a profound affect on the Stingers. A team`s top three scores on each event are used to determine team scores.

``We`ve only had one meet, but I feel like I`m having a good year,`` said Greenwald, a sophomore at Nova High School.``I`ve been having good workouts. I feel good and I really want to make it to nationals this year.``

Greenwald has placed as high as fourth in Class II regional events in the past but hopes to surpass that this year. Basiel sees success ahead for his top gymnast.

``The higher the level you go the more difficult it is to improve,`` Basiel said. ``One of the reasons Mark has done so well is that he`s a technician. You will see some gymnasts chuck tricks and throw themselves through a routine and eventually clean it up as they improve. They`ll sacrifice form and technique in learning a skill.

``Mark is a real thinking gymnast. He`s always analyzing something and trying to comprehend the bio-mechanics of it.``

Greenwald spends three hours a night, five nights a week, practicing at the Tumblebees gym. He knows hard work produces high scores.

``I have a lot of room for improvement,`` Greenwald said. ``You have good nights and bad nights, but I feel like I`m having more good nights than bad nights.``

Greenwald hopes his analytical methods pay off with a ticket to nationals.